Category Archives: online community

Yesterday was my blog’s birthday. It’s been four years since my first post but wow, it feels like it’s been a lot longer. Seems like it’s been WAY longer.

Saying that reminds me of this clip from the Steve Martin movie “The Jerk”. Anyone here remember this scene. I tried to get it to start at the 39 second mark but the code didn’t take.

Anyway, I think my first year blogging was the best. It was my funnest. My first year I “met” some really great people. A handful of them became what I would consider, dare I say, friends. Many of those bloggers who found me when I first started blogging have gone on to other things though.

I’m writing about this because I want to let you know I’m riding my bicycle half way across Texas in an effort to raise funds for researchers to find a cure for MS. I’m riding in the 2009 MS 150 Bike Tour from Houston to Austin. It’s about 160 miles or so over two days.

I’m do it for two reasons. One… believe it or not, I find it fun and of course, challenging. (i’ve ridden this ride before) Two… I know I am extremely lucky to be able to move my body on my own and so I feel an obligation to help.

I want to help researchers find a cure for folks who don’t move so well because of this disease.

I’m no scientist. I don’t know much about this disease or what it will take to end it. But I can pedal my bike and ask people to donate to my ride so the smart guys can figure a way to help those who are afflicted with this disease.

So I hope you will.

I hope you can spare ten bucks… or five bucks… or three or even one.

I know five bucks or even one doesn’t seem like a lot but it all adds up.

When I was in the Marine Corps I learned a saying from the grunts… “ounces make pounds.” I first heard it when my unit attached with some grunts for training and we were going on a 13 mile hike carrying all our gear on our back.

A few of the guys took us “non-hackers” aside and said, “ounces make pounds, Marine. Let me see your gear.” They proceeded to show us how stripping every tiny piece of non-essential crap added up to a lot of weight.

“Ounces make pounds” folks. I know times are tough. Hell, I barely have two nickels to rub together but if you could donate whatever you can…

Amuirin, who periodically stops by and shows some love on my posts recently added this little gem to a rather personal story I disclosed.

Something I’ve noticed is that every so often those in Blogland purge. Perhaps in an exercise of catharsis they tell a life’s story of pain or loss or grief. More often than not, these life stories are quite moving and I think it can be difficult to respond to deeply personal posts like that.

Those who have been writing, even for a short while, seem to have found at least a small online community whose members are a part of the catharsis. They’re a part of it because their comments let us know we aren’t the only ones who hurt or feel from the same story.

At my church we open a space during Sunday service where people can share the sorrows and joys in their lives. We say, “Let it be that a joy shared is a joy multiplied and a sorrow shared is a sorrow divided.”

from The Age of Reason

I believe in one God and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe the equality of man, and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow-creatures happy. ~ Thomas Paine, 1794